Customer Needs
Customer
Need #
Importance
CN1
CN2
1
1
CN3
CN4
CN5
1
1
1
CN6
CN7
CN8
CN9
CN10
CN11
CN12
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Description
Design will include safety and component failure
Ability to manage inputs from multiple power sources
Investigate and benchmark technologies, components and
modules
Engineer multiple concepts. Perform tradeoff analysis
System will integrate power management and load distribution.
Establish highly efficient energy conversion parameters and
design
System must manage energy source variability
Provide data acquisition points for future team's display design
System must be portable
System must include instructions for set-up and use
System must utilize Ascent Solar’s flexible solar modules
Adequate amount of energy storage
Comments/Status
Example: Li-ion Batteries (place in a wooden box when testing)
3-5 solar panel inputs/ do not load low voltage panels
Find efficient battery charging technology
Efficiency is dependent on light conditions
Example: clouds or night-time
Data acquisition is performed by the microcontroller
Ascent Solar competition requirement
Ascent Solar competition requirement
Ascent Solar competition requirement
Project Specifications
Spec. #
Importance
Source
Function
Specification (metric)
S1
1
Power
S2
S3
1
1
CN11
CN3,4,5,
7,8
CN5,7
V Stability
V out
S4
S5
S6
1
1
1
CN7
CN1, 7
CN12
I out
I out
Storage
S7
1
Ability to generate ~5W of energy
Voltage stabilization for battery charging
(~15V ±0.05V)
Output voltage to load of 10V
Full solar delivery, provide a max output
current of 0.5A
Peak output current will meet 5A max
Battery capacity is ~5 A-h
Power load to simulate future display
device at a constant 5W
Load/Display
S8
CN2
Input
S9
S10
CN3
CN4
All
All
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
CN6
CN8
CN9
CN10
CN6
All
All
Unit of
Measure
Marginal
Value
W
V
V
A
A
A-h
14.95V15.05V
N/A
N/A
W
Multiple solar panels
Benchmark given component's
specifications
Weigh concepts for each function
Calculate, design, measure each
function
List DAQ points
V/A
User's manual
Efficiencies for each function
N/A
Ideal
Value
Comments/Status
5
Average power
15
10
Needs clarification
0.5
5
5
Choose an appropriate battery
5
5V-36V
/ 0A-1A
Efficiencies
N/A
N/A